Obama Calls for More Inclusive Future for Democrats, Embracing Socialists and Progressives
Former President Barack Obama has urged Democrats to adopt a broader, more inclusive approach to the future of their party — one that embraces socialists and progressives as legitimate voices within the Democratic coalition.
Speaking on Thursday’s episode of Pod Save America, Obama warned that the party risks alienating younger, more diverse voters if it continues to draw hard ideological lines. He highlighted the recent election of Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s new mayor and a self-identified Democratic Socialist, as a key example of the shifting political landscape.
“Tuesday was nice, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Obama said, referring to the mixed election results across several states. “Your task now is not to impose litmus tests. We saw victories from both Abigail Spanberger and Zohran Mamdani, and they represent a shared vision for the future. Our job is to make sure that we have everyone engaged.”
Obama’s comments came during a wide-ranging conversation with the Pod Save America hosts — former members of his White House communications team — where they discussed the direction of the Democratic Party, its challenges in connecting with working-class voters, and the growing influence of progressive movements within the party.
A Call for Unity Over Purity
The former president, still one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures, emphasized that success in the coming years depends on building bridges, not enforcing ideological purity tests.
“We want to have a conversation about how to ensure that every person in this country is treated with dignity and respect,” Obama said. “We want to build ladders of opportunity, a sense of community — not in some cliché way, but in a real way that recognizes our differences while also acknowledging that there’s something extraordinary about being Americans.”
Obama’s message was both a call for patience and a call for inclusion. “There will be fights that need to be fought,” he added. “But deep down, there’s something shared in all of us, and we can’t lose sight of that.”
Mamdani’s Victory and the Rise of Democratic Socialism
Obama’s remarks followed the election of Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), as Mayor of New York City. Mamdani’s victory — which saw him defeat former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa — shocked the Democratic establishment and energized progressives nationwide.
Mamdani’s campaign was unapologetically left-wing, proposing policies like raising taxes on corporations and wealthy residents, implementing a citywide rent freeze, expanding free public transit, providing universal childcare, and even creating city-owned grocery stores to combat food insecurity.
Critics deemed his proposals economically reckless and ideologically extreme, while his supporters viewed them as bold solutions to a city facing record inequality, housing shortages, and a cost-of-living crisis.
In his victory speech, Mamdani declared that “New York City has chosen a future that works for the many, not the few,” framing his win as “a mandate for working people.”
Obama’s reference to Mamdani — delivered with an approving tone — was widely seen as a sign that the Democratic Party’s most influential elder statesman is recognizing, if not fully endorsing, the growing influence of the party’s left wing.
A Party in Transition
For years, Democrats have struggled to reconcile their centrist establishment with their progressive base. These divisions were most apparent during the 2016 and 2020 presidential primaries, when Bernie Sanders’ brand of democratic socialism challenged traditional party leadership and inspired millions of younger voters.
While Sanders never secured the nomination, his ideas have had a lasting impact. Policies like Medicare for All, student debt relief, and universal childcare have moved from the political fringes into the mainstream of Democratic discourse.
Obama’s recent comments seem to acknowledge this shift. While he did not explicitly endorse socialism as an ideology, his message was clear: the Democratic Party must adapt to the energy and priorities of a new generation.
“Political coalitions evolve,” said Dr. Elena Parker, a political scientist at the University of Michigan. “Obama is essentially saying that the Democratic Party can’t afford to freeze out its left wing. Even if he personally doesn’t agree with every socialist idea, he recognizes that movements like Mamdani’s are shaping the party’s future.”
A Warning and an Opportunity
Still, not everyone in the party is convinced that embracing socialism is a winning strategy.
A Gallup poll released in September found that only 42% of Democrats viewed capitalism positively, while 66% expressed a favorable opinion of socialism. This marks a dramatic shift from a decade ago, when capitalism still had majority support within the party.
Some strategists see this shift as an indicator of changing values, while others view it as a potential political liability.
“Obama is trying to hold together a coalition that’s pulling apart,” said Chris Cillizza, political analyst and contributor for NewsNation. “There’s a real risk that if Democrats lean too far left, they’ll lose independents and moderates — especially in swing states that will decide the presidency in 2028.”
Cillizza pointed out that while socialist candidates like Mamdani can win in deep-blue cities, their policies often fail to resonate on a national level. “The Democratic brand depends on being a big-tent party,” he said. “Obama understands that better than anyone. But the risk is that welcoming socialists could alienate voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Arizona.”
Bridging the Divide
Obama’s remarks may also reflect his awareness of the broader generational divide within the party. Younger voters — particularly those under 35 — have been far more receptive to left-wing economic ideas than older Democrats.
According to a Pew Research Center survey earlier this year, nearly 70% of voters under 30 supported policies like government-funded healthcare, housing assistance, and expanded public transit — central tenets of the progressive agenda. In contrast, only 38% of Democrats over 50 shared those views.
Obama, who has often positioned himself as a pragmatist rather than an ideologue, appears to be advocating for balance: a party that can embrace socialist ideas without alienating moderates.
“He’s not telling Democrats to become socialists,” said political historian James Whitfield. “He’s telling them to stop pretending that socialists aren’t part of the conversation.”
A New Coalition Taking Shape
Mamdani’s win, along with victories by moderate Democrats like Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, offers a snapshot of the Democratic Party’s future: a diverse and, at times, uneasy coalition of pragmatists and idealists.
Obama’s acknowledgment of both figures in the same breath was deliberate. It reminded listeners that, despite their differences, both represent vital parts of the broader Democratic story — one focused on expanding opportunity and inclusion.
“We can argue about the details,” Obama said on the podcast. “But at the end of the day, what people care about is whether government is helping them build a better life. If we can keep that focus — if we can make room for each other — that’s how we win.”
Whether Obama’s vision of unity can withstand the growing ideological divide remains to be seen. However, his comments signal that the party’s elder statesmen are beginning to accept what many activists already believe: the Democratic coalition is changing, and socialists are no longer fringe players, but central to the movement’s future.
Looking Ahead to 2028
As President Trump enters his second term, Democrats are already focusing on the 2028 election — one that could reshape the party’s identity for a generation.
Progressive leaders like Mamdani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are expected to advocate for a platform centered on economic justice, workers’ rights, and climate action. Meanwhile, moderates like Spanberger and Gretchen Whitmer will likely push for a more centrist approach, focusing on fiscal responsibility and coalition-building.
Obama’s recent comments suggest that, rather than choosing between these factions, he believes Democrats must find a way to unite them.
“The Democrats who figure out how to do that,” said Whitfield, “will be the ones who define the next era of American politics.”